Arnie Beyeler, the Justin Verlander of Red Sox BP pitchers

Thursday

Apr 18, 2013 at 6:27 PM

Credit Arnie Beyeler with an assist

Brian MacPherson Journal Sports Writer brianmacp

CLEVELAND -- Mike Carp came out of hibernation to hit two doubles and a triple for the Red Sox on Wednesday night. A hitter who hadn't started a game all season had as productive a night as he possibly could have imagined.

Credit Arnie Beyeler with an assist.

Beyeler threw batting practice in spring training primarily to Dustin Pedroia and Mike Napoli, but hitting coach Greg Colbrunn shuffled the assignments just before the start of the season. Because Beyeler throws a harder batting-practice pitch than the rest of the coaches, he now throws to the team's reserves -- Carp, Jackie Bradley Jr., Pedro Ciriaco, and David Ross.

Even the scuffling Will Middlebrooks made a point of hitting off Beyeler when he took early batting practice on Wednesday afternoon.

The idea is that a harder pitch from Beyeler better simulates the pitching those hitters either aren't seeing because they're not playing in games or need to see to make adjustments that will work in games.

"He brings it kind of firm and gives us more of an opportunity to see a live pitcher," Carp said.

"Nothing substitutes for getting at-bats, but Arnie does throw a little bit firmer," Colbrunn said. "For some guys, it's good for them."

Beyeler never tried to develop such a specialized skill. He only became aware he threw so hard when he realized overwhelmed some less capable hitters as a minor-league manager.

"I just throw," he said. "I don't know. I guess it is harder. That's how I throw. I don't intend to be hard. It's what works."

No one is going to confuse the former PawSox manager with Justin Verlander, however. He's not on the verge of winning a spot in the Red Sox starting rotation.

"They tease me about it," he said with a smile. "I throw like 65 or 68 or something. If it's like the Little League gun, it's (the equivalent of) 95 or 97. They give me (a hard time) about that. If we threw from 45 feet, I'd have a shot."